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VOLUME I,
* THE WillE-GRASS!REPORTER.
‘ V pUBLIS^^ED^TUI^DAY /^JoRNINOB^ > B? , ”
IjOVB tto HAXiXi.
-VbTR K I.OVE, i WILLIAM H. HAI.L.
PKTIJIt B. LOVE, Editor.
* . TERMS.-
Tho WiKK-GRABS Rrporter i* published Week
* lr it Two Dollars per Annum, in atlMnne.
All orden tor the Reporter, to receive attention
TBttrt b# aecompanied witli the money.
Subscribers wUbiug the direction of their paper
changed, will notify ns from what office it is to he
transferred-
The foregoing terms will be Strictly observed.
Advertisements conspicuously iuserted atOne
Cellar per square for the tint, and h fly (.■cuts for
ach ’ subsequent, insertion. Those sent without a
•pacification of the number ofinsertions, will be pub
ipthed until ordered out, and charged Accordingly. i
Salas of Land aud Negroes, by Adiniuistrntors,
d-lxocutors, oryGiiardianii, ere required by law to be
Laid ou tho firSt Tuesday iu the month, between the
Aoh reef ton in the forenoon and throe In the alter
tiHOn. at the Court house in the county in which the
praportv is situate. Notices of these sales must be
*iven in a public gazette fortV DAYS previous to
tha day of sale.
Notioes for the sale of Personal Property, must be
siren at least TES DAYS previous to the day of sale.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors of an Estate must
4>e published forty days.
Natice that application will be made to the Court
•f Ordinary for leave to aell Land or Negroes, must
ba published weekly for two months.
Citations for Letters of Administration, must be
published thirty days—for Dismission from Adminis
tratinn, monthly fur six months —for Dismission from
-Guardianship, forty days.
Rules for Foreclosure of Mortgage must he pub
lished monthly for four months— for establishing lost
papers, for thefntl sport of three months —for compel
ling titles from Executors or Administrators, where
-a bond has been given by the deceased, the full space
three mouth*.
Publications will Always be continued according to
these requirements, u,.less otherwise ordered.
All business in the line of I’RINTINfI will meet
‘with prompt attention at the REPORTER OFFICE.
(Law Firm.)
HARRIS & HARRIS. ,
Iverkox L. Harris, I Charles J. Harris,
MilledgeviUe, G. | Thomasville, Ga.
march ‘,ll . w ts
Rl>(. S. Birch fle William MeLeitdou, .
A'l TORNKY6 AT LAW,
TIIOMIS4 11.1. K, ‘GEORGIA
octli HI wov
B IKER & BSI WET,
A r r r r OR N KY S A T LA W,
Troup rille, Lowndes Cos., Ct.
■ffipt 15 w ts
15. SFI3NCCB,
ATT<) RN K Y AT LAW,
, ,c,r.v-% • -rr AHVf I .ItHt
lfll.l, give hi* entire attention to the prnetiee of
Law, in the C unities of tint Southern Circuit.-
Office on thesecous iloor of 1). & E. McLean’s
brink building. (jmrtOoy
E. C. It<)UUAN H
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
jMWf/fchfi t; ft>notA. . •, „
prurtiri* in th*‘ *l* the Southern Cir
cuit, ttnl the enuiiiie:; of I)ix>ly t A\ orth uiul
orty of the Ma anti ('hfl'ce, Clinch miJ are
of the Brunswick (
Flat (,’rceK. (la.. tV- t. 7. ts
JfOS3\ rtl. VKO>,
A TTO II N E Y A t LAW,
OFFICE next door to l>r. Brucc’c, ThotnaKville>
(teorgin. j. ‘11107 ly.
KITH &'ctesssiiox,
AT T O R X E Y S A T LA W,
. . .MAGNOLIA, CLINCH CO.. C.A, ’
ATTEND to all hu-in. KS entrusted to their care, in
the following counties, to-wit: Clineh, Ware, Ap
pling, Coffee, Charlton. Lowndes and Berrien, Oeor- i
gia. Also, in the’ counties of Hamilton, Columbia, ,
aud .1 rifeiHim, in Florida.
DAVID P. Utm. | HENRY M. MKUIHOX,
jail 5 w *m 1
lAMIiS iU. I’OLSO.U,
ATTO RNEYA TLA W, j
magnolia, clinch ‘co,, ga. ,
AVILT. practice in nil the eourts of tpe Brunswick ,
Circuit an lin ilieeouits of Lowndes and Berrien |
of the Southern Circuit:
„ . ( .lodge A. K. Ceehran. Brunswick Ct. 1
References J Ju<lge ]Vt „ r K [. <IV , N Southern Ct. i
fan B w l y i
~ O. I|Td All ELL,
ATTOR XEY A T LA W, 1
TiiouAsvir.tr., Georgia.
Office one door above dobii stark’s iui Fletcher -St.-. 1
formerly occupied bv L. (;’. Bryan. [jn n t—ly
.” 7 ~ Etj&jpawß-ji;.
r ATTO RN lA A T LA W.
TIIOMASV/tI.E, GEORGJA ,
Office over Mc'Lraii’Kjjftire. (jn2f>
NiniOLLS A- iILLE I*.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW, .]
WAUESHBOROI.’GH, WARE CO., GA.
TYILL practice in ALL the counties of the Brims- ,
wick circuit, and Lowndes and Berrien of the
Southern
JOHN C. NICHOI.LS; I ANDREW J. MILLER,
tqb it w oy i
(Ihform Practice.) , ‘
Drs. BOWER A ELLIN,
OFFER their profession*! service* to the citizens
of ‘Vliomasvillo and vicinity. Calls at nil hour*
promptly attended to. feb2oy
Dn SAIVEL R. WILLIAMS
HAVING located in Thomasville. respectfully ten
• Hers hi* professional services to the citizen* of
Thomasville and vicinity. He may be found at the
_ Ortlee of Dr. 8. 8. Adam*. [octliioy
’ DR. E. O. ARNOLD
” ILL continue the practice of Deu
tistry in Thpiuasville aud vicinity — { WIRhIKk
Any tinier left ut the Fust Office or at
hi* Office du ring his nhsenee from town will receive
attention nt the earliest opportunity. [jnn6-Jy
MORRIS STELHERTT
professor ot music will give private lessons to the
ptizens of Thpjnaville and vicinity upon the Piano,
Melodeon, Guitar. Flute, Violin, and V iolon’cello.—
He may ha found at Fletcher Institute from 0 a, m. to
13. lAano* tuned. (nctSOoy
C. IW. H ARRIS^
General Commission Mental,
Foot of’ Monk Street Brunswick, Ga.
’ dec2 w „.. ts- .
HOREHT BONKGK,
(Late of Otorgia.) Ilf IT H
IIOWES, IIYATT & C 0„
No. 80 Warren St., New York. ,
WILL bo prepared toahow country merchant* this
spring the be*t and cheapest stock of Boot* and
Shoe* ever offered to the Southern trade.
Orders solicited and earefblly attended to.
®*f X W i>
Stlid |}attr]j.
From tho National American.
LINES.
Written after three successive visift to a young
lady, who entertained we in • room without fire,
when the mercury stood considerably below the
freezing point.
Til not in bekuty, not in wit, —-
Nor yet in grace nor gold,
To make uie satisfied to sit
Aud woo you iu the cold.
For if I could my heart uuscal-r *
Let love flow like a river,
Each fervent drop would sure congeul
While I sit here and shiver.
Although I'm n-olcouied with a smile,
And tender glances greet,
m- I still remember all the while
The weather and my feet.
I know the chimney place is clean,
All nicely white-washed o’er;
But then it must be soiled, I ween,
Or you'll see me no more.
I own I feel a strong desire
That we two ehould be one ;
But if you do not keep a fire,
Confound it, I am done!
UliscelliuuoHs.
GENERAL JACKSON’S TOILET.
The genial temper of President Buchan
an, his easy, pleasant n miners and racy con
versation, have already rendered him a great
favorite in society .abroad us well as nt home,
and few of our public men have laid up such
a stock of amusing and valuable reminis
cences. There is one anecdote which he
tells of General Jackson which is so charrfc
teristic of the old hero that it is worth pre
-serving. The President relates that onO da
during the administration of Old Hickory,
110 jvent to the White House to ask permiss
km to present to him tho celebrated Miss
•Betsy Oaton. General Jackson readily as
sented, and uained the next day for the in
terview. At the appointed Lour Mr. Buc
hanan repaired with his fair charge to the
Presidential mansion, and leaving the lady
in one of the drawing-rooms he mounted to
tho cabinet of the President To
hia gteat surprise and disappointment, .be
foul) and the General buried in bis books and
papers, and attired in a plain morning dress,
his cliin unshaven mid his favorite pipe in
his mouth. The Senator from Pcnnsylvan'a
was grievously embarrassed. He was, ap
prehensive that ts he announced Miss Ga
lon's presence, the gallant veteran would
descend all in nrgligc ns he was.
Mr. Bnehanan did not like to expose the
renowned belle to such a shock as tliaL anil
011 the other hand lie equally dreaded offer
ing a suggestion to the fiery old hero. There
was no alternative, however, and lie had to
state that Missi Oaton was waiting the Gener
als presence in the green drawing room. Up
jumped Old Hickory at the first word, and
laid down his pipe. There was not a mo
inenMo ho lost, so Mr. Buchanan, in a timid
and apologetic manner, ventured to observe
that ‘‘the lady could very well wait till the
Piesident had shaved himself.” The Gen
eral saw what lie was driving at, and
shook his frizzled head nt him like the
mane of an enraged lion. “ Buchanan,”
thundered oift the impetuous old man, “did
you ever hear of the man in Kentucky who
got rich by minding his own business ‘/”
Without stopping to say vtjiethcr he was
acquainted..with the remarkable pgison in
question, the expeiienccd Senator fled from
the storm, and took refuge with his lovely
companion down stairs. In a few minutes,
afterward, the hero of New- Orleans enter
ed the room with that dignity of manner
which no man knetv better how to assume,
and great was Mr. BnchntiHQ’s relief to find
that not only was his face quite virginal** in
its smoothfiess, but that fie was got up in bis
best black suit, with boots of faultless radi
ance.
CURE FOR THE BITE OF A HAD DOG.
A .
m writer in the National Intelligencer says
that spirits of hartshorn is a certain remedy
for the bite of a mad dog. Tho wound be
adds, should be constantly bathed with it and
three or four doses, diluted, taken inwardly
during the day. The hartshorn decomposes
chemically the virus insinuated into the
wound, and immediately destroys its
delpteriousness. The writer, who resided in
Brazil for some jime, first tried it for the bite
of a scorpion, and fouud that it removed pain
aud inflammation almost instantly. Subse
quently, ho tried it for the bite of the rattle
snake, with similar success. At the sugges
tion of the writer, an old friend and physi
cian tried it in cases of hydrophobia, and al
ways with success.
SITTING FOR A PORTRAIT. ,
I will tell you what happened to a pain
ter df my acquaintance. A dentist sat to
him Two days—the third the painter worked
very hard—moked nt the picture and then at
his sitter, “ Why sir,” said lie, “ I find I
have beep all wrong; what can it be ? Why,
sir, your mouth ia not at all like what it was
yesterday.’’ “Ab ! ah ! I will tell you vat
it ees,” replied the French dentist; “ab !
gooifc—my mouse is not de same ; n 6, indeed,
Yesterdny I did have my jaw in, but- L-did
lend it out to a lady this day.” you
think of this, now, while you are sitting.—
You know the trick Garrick played the pain
ter, who, foiled in his attempt, started up,and
said, “ You must bo Garnck or tbe a- !”
— Blackwood.
A difficulty is reported to have occurred
between Franco and Switzerland, with re
gard to political refugees.
Avery good little thing of the kind is, we
believe, the-importance of preparing histori
cal books for tbe youthful mind.
THOMASYILRE, GEOKGTA, MARCH !?3,1858.
SPEECH OF COL. SEWARD
ON THE EFFICIENCY OY THE NAVY
, Mr. Seward. I give notice now, at the
commencement of roy speech, that I shall
move the previous question.
Mr. Smith, of Virginia. What is the gen
tleman's notice?
Mr. Seward. I would say, with all due
respect to tliegentlem.au from Virginia, that
he having been for a great many years on
tire floor, and having been heard very fre
quently, he ought not to claim that I should
withhold n motion for the previous question
to allow him to speak, although other young
members on the -floor, who nars not been
heard on this subject, might be entitled to
such courtesy. > •
Mr. Smith, of Virginia. It was out of
courtesy to the gentleman that I lost the
floor yesterday. I gave way that he might
submit a motion which he expressed a desire
to submit, to postpone action, i will profit
by the precedent hereafter.
Mr Seward. 1 did not understand the
gentleman as extending me that courtesy;
but 1 will let the House settle the question in
regard.to the previous question, if I call it
at all.
Mr. Speaker, I desire to have, if possible,
the attention cf the House iu regard to this
question ; because the principles themselves,
disconnected from the effect of it upon the
complaining officers of the Navy, ought to
be settled, and settled correctly by this
House. Iu the Thirty-Third Congress, the
bill which they call the reform bill was pass
ed by this House, under the previoua ques
tion, without discussion. It was introduced
by the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Bo
cock,J who a speech to-day in op
position to the position which I shall endeav
or to maintain. It was warmed into exis
tence by hiuf; it is his own creature ; and 1
do not wonaer that the gentleman should
stand by it.
1 do not complain of tho sensitiveness of
( the gentleman frpm Virginia on this subje-ct,
because tbe condemnation’ of this country
upon tbe aet of 1855 was a condemnation of
the legislative conduct of that gentleman,
who introduced that bill into this House, and
hail it passed under-4.be previous question.
Now, Mr. Speaker, tt would be a enrions
matter of information to myself if tbe honor
able gentleman would enlighten me as to
bow and in wlmt manner that bill was man
ufactured ; whether “it emenated from tbe
cwwimiMes itself, whether it was maim factor
ed in tire Navy Department, or whether jt
war the creature of this very board of fif
teen which applod tbe knife'to two hundred
of their brethreh in the Navy 1 Well, sir,
the work is done. The gentleman from
Vitginia says it was not a judicial act of
theirs. Now, 1 ask the gentleman from Vir
ginia whether it was mot, in fact, a judicial
act by which two hundred men were displac
ed from ;llie public service f Bitch was the
action of that board, that Congress found it
self incompetent, under any power possess
ed by them, under the Constitution, to afford
full and adequate relief to the parties who
bad been condemned. Hence the necessity
of the act of 1857 ; and’ that act in itself
shows that tbe Tbirty-Foui-th Congress
thought it did not have the power, iu defi
ance of the Executive, to remedy tho mis
chief.
Now, sir, how did these two hundred men
who had come under the condemnation of
tl.e naval board present tldnnsclves before
these courts of inquiry ? I bog to call the
attention of gentlemen to the opinion of the
Attorney General upon this subject, to show
that these men,when th p y came beforo these
courts of inquiry, came there as their owu
accusers, nnd put their own reputation in is
lue, and that they were called upon, not to
defend their own reputations wen assailed,
but to establish the affirmative proposition
that they were morally, mentally, physical
ly, and professionally competent to dis
charge all the duties required of them. So
that the judgment of the board of fifteen
was a judicial decision which put them out
of the service, and put upon them tho bur
den of eotning into court; and establishing
tJieir own character—ihat character which
they had torn from them in advance, ‘i The
Attorney General, in giving his opinion in
regard to the manner in which these trials
should be conducted before the courts of in
quiry, says:
“ I apprehend, however, that the necessa
ry course of proceeding on the of an)’
officer, whose case may undergo investiga
tion, will dispose of most of the debatable
points in this relation. He must begin by
producing evidence, of some sort, to tbe point
of bis alleged fitness : and thus, according to
all the authorities, be will open the inquiry; -
not only of character as a personal fact, but
also as a fact in estimation, that is reputa
tion. Id the cvidence-whicJi he offers there
cannot fail to be some of this nature.”
Why, sir, I submit that there is not a
member of tins House, I care not how pure #
his character may be, if you will subject
him to the same test, And impose upon him
the same obligation to establish that, charac
ter which were imposed by these courts, who
will not that instant find persons having in
terests in conflict with his, who can hunt up,
in social life, some charge, some accusation
made by some enemy, to strike , down his
character. lie, being placed upon tbe af
firmative,’ to build up his character, is plac
ed at a disadvantage which ho cannot over
come by reason of the character of the ev
idence ou which he must rely. .Why, Mr.
■Speaker, this was a sort of spirittml court.—
Why, they investigated the mortu character
of tiuse men. In one o’! the retards which
I have lo >ked into, I find that a high charac
ter was absolutely strickeb down for taking
round a social board, six or seven years ago,
a glass of wine punch, by which he became
to some extent intoxicated. 1 refer to Lieu
tenant Harrison, Tbe only charge against
him was the one I have named, and which
he admitted. Hia subsequent lift* and his
prior life was as spotless—l venture tbe as
sertion—as that of any gentleman in the
Navy. If tbe members id this House were
tried by the same rule, it is likely that some
of us mi^bt Bsuffer 8 suffer from-a similar investiga
tion, for it is a weakness under which some
of ns may fall. [Laughter.] ‘
Now, Mr. Speaker, this baa been eaUed a
great work t>f lefnrm. We have been told
that the Navpr has bqeq immensely benefited
by it. Admit it. Tt may be said that more
good than mischief has been done. Well,
air, if that be-true, the gentleman from Vir
ginia admitted that there were some errors
committed in carrying it out, which were cor
rected partially by the legislation of the last
Congress. Then, why not, under this reso
lution, carry out the work, and correct the
balance of the misohief, and full jus
tice to lie done to these parries ? Who is to
be injuriously affected by this resohitiou J
None but those in high places, and in the
enjoyment of high compensation. And tha*,
sir, is what has given rise to all the mischief,
i t has been a struggle to displace some men
in the Navy that others might be promoted.
The whole difficulty began gt that particu
lar point, and lias been continued from that
particular time. Well, sir, the act of 1857
looked to curing the mischief which, as I
said, grew out of the decisions of the naval
boaid under the act of 1855. The act con
templated (lie relief of tbe Navy from the
difficulties in which it had found itself in ati
increase of officers, nnd provided for tho res
toration of such of the officers displaced tin
der the act of 1855 ns the courts of inquiry
might recommenj|. The secoud section of
the act is as follows :
“ Sec. 2. And be itfurther enacted, That
the operation of the present law limiting the
number of officers of. tho Navy within one
year from the passage of this act, by the
President, by and with the advice and con
sent of the Senate, of officers reserved or
dropped under the operation of the act of
tbe 28th of February, 1855, entitled 1 Air
act to promote the efficiency of the Navy
Provided, That there shall be no further
promotions or appoiuttneiitß id any grade,
after t|ai(l restorations sfmlfhavc been made
thereto, until Suiji grade in tho active ser
vice shall bo reduced to the limit now pre
scribed by law. That when any such officer
. shall be restored to tbe Navy, by and
the advice and consent of tho Senate, the
officer so restored shall occupy that position
and rank in the Navy which he would have
heldiiad he not been retired, furlougj|gd or
dropped, by tho order of the President, on
tbe report of the naval board: Provided,
fiirt.'icr, Tb.it tmy dropped'offirer who may
be, in the opinion of said Comb-cutdied 4u
be placed on the retired or furloughed list,
may be thus placed by tho President, by aud
will* the advice nnd consent of . the Senate.”
There were, one hundred and nine applica
tions for relief to the courts of inquiry ; nine
of these were withdrawn Ou the final ver
dict thirty-three were restored to tho active
list ; and from the furloiighed list, thirty
nine were, advanced to the reserved list; lea
ving only furty-iiiner of the number where
they were under the decision of the naval
board. Thus, nearly two thirds of tbe de
cisions of that board were overruled, and wo
have more than cause to suspect that even a
greater number of errors weio committed.—
Why, sir, when these men were sent before
the courts of inquiry,they were looked upon
as if they had been applicants for place in
the Naval Academy, or at West Point, anil
their characters were put in issue as though
they never had been connected with the
Navy. Notwithstanding this, however,
two thirds of the decisions of the naval board
were reversed.
What does the resolution contemplate ?
The resolution upon your table, Mr. Speak
er, proposes to allow tho President of the
United States to examine the records made
up by the courts of inquiry ; and that whore,
iu his opinion, tl.e record presents a case
which entitles a party suffering from the de
cision of the court to relief, that the Presi
dent may recommend his appointment, sub
ject to the ratification of the Senate -of the
United States. What mischief can ensue
from the resolution? In tbe first place, the
President of tho United States revises
record, looks into all of tho facts aud, if lie
believes the iudgmont of’ the court of inqui
ry was wrong, then he may nominate the
party to the Senate. There tho character
1 of tire party undergoes an investigation ; and
if he is morally, mentally, physically, or pro
fessionally unfit, he will not be confirmed by
the Seiate; No man pretends to vindicate
the action of the naval retirlng board If. try
ing these parties by no law that ex
isting in their owri bosom, nnd resulting from
their own imagination. There is no record
showing that actionT and the only living
witness that such a hoard over existed, is
“tba! some two hundred men are abroad in
the land, branded infamy by Ur ~r ,
It wag said by the gentleman from Vir
ginia [Mr. Bocock j that since the injroduc-
of this measuie into Congress, persons
affected by. the board of fifteen, tinder the
act of 1855, or by tha. courts .of inquiry,
’ had haunted this Capitol, and asked for the
passage of this resolution. The gentleman
should remember that when tlie original act’
was passed, the officers who have boon bene
fitted u ruler it were daily flocking mound
the Hall, and they were not kept out. They
took seats upon the floor of the House of
Representatives. They constantly pressed
tbb passage of the measure. After they had
polled the House,..and -ascertained their
strength, aud knew that they could carry
the hill, it was passod without debate, unde<
the previoua question. I happened to watch
the machinery then at work, and it was ope
rated by some who wished to get rid of some
honorable men, that they themselves might
be promoted. They succeeded; aud from
that day to this, Mr, Speaker* there has been
a struggle here, and a struggle ln tba -N“y,
and In every department of the Government,
to correct tbe evil which’followed. We have
been doing it, stop by step, In changing the
act of 1865. We pa*secf the act of “1867 ;
bnt it was insufficient to accomplish the en
tire work designed. If we pass this resolu
tion. tbeu, these parties may have justice
done them ; and justice may be done to thfera
without injury to the public service.
Gentlemen have talked pbout putting
these men upon ships and sinking them with
sound men. Is it believed that the Presi
dent of the United States and the Sonata,
which is a co-ordinate branch of the execu
tive Government in regard to appointments,
would indorse men with bad characters 1—
fe it believed that they would advise the
restoration of unsound men to the naval ser
vice 1 Why, sir, tbe Senate is as competent
to look into the character of these tueu as a
court of iuquiry, tho members of which did
not understand the first principles of ovi
denct*—a fact which I could demonstrate if
l had time to go into tbe records. If a court
examine into the skill of a medical mao,they
will take the evidence pf mediael rami; and
the only competent evidence of the skill or
unskillfulness of a naval officer ia that of
men in the same profession. But here ru
mors wore taken ftold of, and old let torn nnd
charges were raked up. The rubbish of ten
or tweuty years was dragged into court to as
sail the charnctcrof fhe.se men before the
courts of inquiry. The courts 4>f Inquiry
numbered one, two, and three. What weft*
they 1 How do they stand? Wi-H* getrths
mon say that they were competent to decide
these questions? No sir. Some of them (I
•do not know how many) wero tbe recipieuto
of the benefits*of the act of 1855; and to
restore any of these men was to tiffcct them
selves. They were incompetent, according
to every principle of law ; and tho groat er
ror, in my opinion, waa that the Secretary of
the Navy, instead of civilians liuving.no per
sonal intesest in tfio matter, to pass upon
these questions. ‘
Bat, Mr. Speaker, Secretary Dobbin, up
on whoso report the gentleman from Virginia
| Mr. Bocock] relies for authority, absolute
ly insisted upon some remedial measure nt
the hands of Congress fbr the benefit bf theeo
men. The gentleman from Virginia, how
ever, did not have the liberality to read what
was said upon that subject; hut, lawyer
like, contented himself with reading such
portions of the report as suited Ins views,
ami omitting to read the rcsidito. What did
Secretary Dobbin say upon this subject ?
; He said :
And wliile I can by no means recoin
; mend the adoption of any measure of repeal,
1 nr any course of (proceeding hi conflict with
• the general action of tho board, I have no
doubt that there should be,and will be,found
. a remedy for any mistake Or error of judg
ment, if the service bas been deprived of A
1 meritorious anil capable officer, either by
ervntion or dropping.”
Now, air, there was no record that tbe
President could review of the twd hundred
and odd cases that were determined by tbe
first hoard there was no evidence that, the
Secretary of the Navy could look to to as
certain whether the board had acted justly or
not—uone, sir; so that by necessity; from
tho very character of the law, end tho very
character of the exmniuution, tho President
of the United States had either to
tho entife action of the oard, or to reject it
in Into. The President could not lay his fin
ger upon one of those two hundred and odd
men, and Bay that he had been unjustly trea
ted. There was no record, no evidence: so
.that, as I said before, the President had qi
ther to approvo or to reject the entire action
of the board; Rnd he took the first of these
alternatives, uod approved if, without know
ing what he did approve, Tho law compell
ed the President, iu order to carry out this
woikof reform, to approve of the decision
of the board of fifteen upon the characteis
-of all those men, without knowing the basis
of the action of that bonrd.
s But, sir, wc have now got this, thisg in a
1 tangible shape. Wo have bad a court of ia
, quiry, bad as it wa —a court that allowed
) these men to come In at\d put their own rep
- utations in issue, ou the assumption that they
-’ Imd been disgraced, And called upon them to
- prop up those reputational The ordinary
i legal rule is, that every man is presumed to
5 beiinndccnt until the contrary appears; but
) these men were, from necessity, brought be
; fore the court upon the assumption that they
>. were all incompetent, from moral .causes, or,
- from some mental defect, or some physical
! infirmity,or because they had disgraced them
r selves professionally. Well, now from tilts
! court we have a record-—and I submit, in
- fairness and justice, to this House, if it is not
right and proper and sound legislation tha\
i wo should allow the President to review
these records, and wherever, in bis opfnlon,
injustice has been done, to recommend the
1 restoration of the officer, subject to eonfirma-.
: tion by the Senate, even though it m*y in
; crenpc the ex ponses of the Government 7—-
1 We have been told by the gentleman from
Virginia [Mr. Bocock| that 850,000 has been
added to the expenses of the Navy by tbe
restorations which have already taken place
under the action of tho courts of inquiry of
1 1857. Now, sir, the %eotlemAn ought to
, have -turned to the’ other side of the account
• How much money,l wonld ar-k.has been spent
in trying to redress the wrongs of these men J
I venture to assert that the misstrp of the
Naval Committee, and the improper action
of the Thirty-Third Congress, under the, ip
my judgment, very bad recommendation of
the . Secretary of the Njrty, has cost this
■ Government millions of dollars. It will not
, do for gentlemen to say .that it was sound
legislation, and that the Navy required re
form. Tbe action of the naval, board, tlia
recommendation of tbe Secretary of tbb
Navy, the legislation of the Thirty-Third
Congress! have been put on trial before the
American people, and they stand .condemn-’
, ed and will so stand until the end of time.
Millions of the public money hanc been
spent in order to redeem the broken reputa
tion and crushed spirits of those men who
have thus Been trampled npon, by nnjust
legislation, and by tbe interference of officers
of the N*vp who desired to make way for
, their own future promotion-
I Relieve, Mr. Speaker, that .this Navy bill
of 1855 was the result of a fundamental er
ror in the legislation of this whole country—
This, sir, is a Government of Clerks. Edicts
NTJMBFIR^T.
are issued at (tie Department*; and, through
the rate* of this Itomc organlxrng your mi
mitteea, the legislative power te thi* *ountry
i* paralysed, and. the trae representative
character of member* apon tlii* door i* Wrick -
en down. Yon are trameled at every step in
your legislation by Hie complication of your
rotes. Under the custom and habit which
prevail here, the member* of Hie committees
write to and receive letter* from
•ents. Winch are mnnofoetered by mat*
there, no one knowing what outaide infill*
ences are brought to boar upon them ; and
iho edict#ef thtese clerks are earned oat here
some times by the three of party drill of
which ever party may he ?n power; and
hence onr legislation has become vitiated*t
every step. It is s great evil in this rmwitiy
(if tw© error* wio wrong, ftnu oT tu© tutM*
chief done by looking to the Departments to
see what is our duty to tbg .couutrjr. Sir,
hope she time witt come when the atfbdtiOn
of the people es tliis country will be called
to it, and that they will see to k that tills
iniquttious system of legislation it broken
down.
We have got too many bureaus. This hul
of 1355 emanated from some herein or nthor.
But the mischief fma brew dene. Shall we
apply the remedy! The patient -ia sick j
we want the medicine applied; sad it is found
in the resolution. I know but oaer twesf
ficers in the Navy. Ido hot want to know
officers ; all I want to know ia that they do
their duty. So long Its 1 have a seat on this
floor, I shall not atop to inquire who or wbat
a man is, or whore he came from. I will pat
Inm on trial apon the same process as I elafth
for tnyself. X will try him by no other ralat
and l would have justice measured outturn*
under the law, so will 1 give it lo tbo hum
blest member of society, in any part of she
Union. Talk about the Administration ! I
do not look upon this-us an Administration
meaatnru or aaan mrti*AdmM>tnittMi onoalhre.
i da nod know what political feelings any af
those men who seek tp he restored itare. I
do not witnt to know. Bnt I want to give
nil of them the right to go before tlte court of
appeal*—as it has been termed—bdfonr tfio
President of the United States mid have
their cases reviewed. And if tnjuetiee or
wrong has been them, let the remedy
be applied; let their name arid repttfirtbm be
relie veil from the censure and odium put up
on them, indict the men be restored to their
position.
Mob who have boon educated in the Army
or Navy are, as we all know, fiom their team
ing and habit*, entirely unlit for ether busi
ness. What do they know about any other
business than that which (bet were taught
to understand from their youth ftjfi ‘ WP***
mon say, if wa pass this resolution, we may
restore forty-ninmollicers to the N*vy. Bop
pose we dp, Mr, Speaker ? If it is right, put
ttie whole of them beck, though it should cost
the Government fifty or one hundred thou
sand dollars, fit forty-nrno of these men
stand condemned unjustly by the unrighteous
decision of a Court, organised as tksae courts
were organized, under the acts and
1857, let theta be restored to their good name
and to their firmer position. But I taka it
for granted that there are very few of these
men who will be restored. 1 hava seen Ik)
applications of two or throe, that bar* been
prepared, in the event of tha passage of thj*
resolution. I know but few who intend to
apply ; and, looking at the records of their
particular cases, I am satisfied that thejll are
entitled'to the remedy provided by this reso
lution, and that an set of Injustice #ill his
done by Congress if aha does not upas it.—
lu thu pthcr branch of Congress, it 7aa pass
ed by a majority of sixteen. There were, I
tfiinW thirty in favor of the resolution, te
fourteen against it. This lb prett/ decisive,
especially when tha Benate committee hasl
examined into the matter, and investigated
so re of these cases, and the evidence on
which they wero decided.
Now, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from
Virginia [Mr. Smith] said he wanted to make
a speech. I think that enough has been said
fan this subject; and I believe that I should
call the previous question. If the House is
not willing to sustain it, I do not, cure. .1
therefore demand the previous qitestion on
the .motion to reconsider. ’
.. f. A MV* UETTXS. , r > .
By force of circumstances the reeipientof the
following ‘‘missile of the heart.” was compell
ed to give us tlte pleasure of reading it, safi
without his permission or knowledge ore have
transcribed ft to another sheet for our read
er*: +’ . ~ . „
- Pulaski, October, 1827,
Dear Jbkms:— Itake my seat to write
you a few lines, hoping they may find yog
well; O, I do believe 1 shall surely and je, aa
less I get to see you before sunda. Hauna
and hbr lovin’ Jake may go bobbin around
telling secrets as much aa tha waul too, bat
0, Jeems. I no you are the sweetest man o
ertb, O, Jeems. Deer Jeems, don’t yon
wish the time would soon come when, we could
be jineri together never to seperati f Bat
4’m only 14 and you are Only W and it Wlfl
be so long before we are free. Gome to son
me Jeems, next sunda, for I cad’t live if yea
don’t. a
O don’t you lona for the time to sWi
Wkn yob and I nhallboth be free
Then .H you’d want in tliis rrea.tfife
Would be me tor a wife sad a bi pUatathn* a
Don’t forget to come, my ow derr Jeems
for I love you better than any of rnv kin-fokes.
You are sweeter than lasses, candy, or sugar
and I no you will come to your lovin Judy.
There now, excuse this short letter, as If wa*
time to go to boil before 1 coniMiwod, . a|
Your oan deer JUDY T****.
Men are frequently like Twf—the teal
strength and goodness are not property dWMI
out until they have been a- short time in hat
water * , . imrnm
If no sin were punished hare, no pash
deuce would be believed ; if every sin w*k
punished here, no judgment Would be expec
’ ramz&tmi- ‘a ■ •- - • .TiW/fionß